Stuart Broad captured his second 10-wicket haul as England defeated Australia by 74 runs in the Fourth Investec Ashes Test at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. It was a heart-breaking defeat for the Aussies as they seemed to have bounced back in the series in Manchester and then at Chester-le-Street did quite a lot to stay in the contest until a batting collapse on the fourth day. England have won The Ashes 2013 with an unassailable lead of 3-0 with one more Test to be played at The Oval from the 21st of this month.
Batting first after winning the toss, England had a poor first day reduced to 238 for 9 and then bowled out for the same total the next morning. At one stage, the hosts were doing well at 107 for 1 but their start was so slow that Australia could sneak through by chipping in with the wickets. Skipper Alastair Cook was the top scorer with a hard-working 51 from 164 balls. Jonathan Trott was next best with 49 to his name. For the Aussies, Nathan Lyon extracted bite from the surface as early on Day 1 to take four wickets. Opening bowlers Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird took two wickets each.
Australia struggled to 76 for 4 before they were rescued by opener Chris Rogers and Shane Watson with the latter dropping down the order to no.6. The 35-year-old Chris Rogers registered his maiden Test century. The left-hander finished with a knock of 110 from 250 balls with 14 fours. Watson contributed a patient knock of 68 from 134 balls with 7 fours. Australia were bowled out for just 270 with Stuart Broad taking 5 for 71.
England happy with keeping the Aussie lead to only 32 runs were in massive trouble at 49 for 3 in the second essay with all the three wickets falling to Ryan Harris. Kevin Pietersen (44) and Ian Bell (113 from 210 balls with 11 fours) rescued the hosts with a 106-run stand. On Day 4, England resuming at 234 for 5 were bowled out for 330. Tim Bresnan scored 45 while Graeme Swann at no.10 played a crucial cameo of 30* from 24 balls. For the tourists, Ryan Harris recorded career best figures of 7 for 117 in 28 overs while Lyon took three wickets.
Australia asked to chase 299 had a great opening stand of 109 from Chris Rogers (49) and David Warner (71 from 113 balls with 10 fours and a six). However, things fell apart for the Aussies after the superb start with the middle order failing to stand up to the occasion. Stuart Broad ran through their line-up taking 6 for 50. Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann chipped in with two wickets each to bring England back in the contest before Broad wrapped up things with his destructive spells.
